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ISLAMABAD: Seeing a conspiracy behind a sudden deviation in government’s stance from its earlier “commitment to shift” incarcerated ex-premier Imran Khan to hospital, the opposition alliance, Tehreek Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP), has decided to continue its ongoing sit-in for another day to check government’s response to the issue of Adiala jail meetings and his medical care.
Tuesdays and Thursdays have been fixed as meeting day of friends and family with Imran Khan, according to a court order.
While talking to Dawn, TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Ahmed Yousafzai said the sit-in would continue till Tuesday. “Although we have examined the medical report of Imran Khan, we will not be satisfied unless the meeting of the family and personal physicians is allowed with Imran Khan. We have suggested that Imran Khan’s cousin Dr Nosherwan Barki and other family physicians be allowed to meet him.”
Replying to a question, Mr Yousafzai said the alliance believed there was some conspiracy behind the government’s “sudden change of mind”.
Nine legislators, 55 PTI workers, leaders booked on several charges, including terrorism
“We got a commitment from Mohsin Naqvi, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Rana Sanaullah that Imran Khan will be shifted to Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad. However, the government used the cover of the Supreme Court and sent a team to Adiala jail which was against the understanding,” he claimed.
“We have been assessing the ‘changes’ after a meeting of Mohsin Naqvi with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. On the other hand, President Asif Zardari’s sudden statement and change in language was also against his nature. Finally, the government deviated from its commitment to send Imran Khan for medical check-up,” Mr Yousafzai said.
He earlier in the morning told Dawn it was a surprising step that all the routes had been cleared. “First of all, we are going to have breakfast after four days, as previously we were eating only dates and biscuits and were being forced to drink tap water. It has been decided to merge the sit-in at the Parliament Lodges with the one at Parliament House,” he said.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi told the media it was Imran Khan’s constitutional right to receive medical treatment under the supervision of his personal doctors and in the presence of his family. He said that despite the SC directions, obstacles in the provision of medical treatment were raising serious questions.
CM Afridi expressed concern that preventing personal doctors and family members from meeting Imran was creating doubts and apprehensions. He said Mr Khan’s health was a matter beyond politics, adding that there was no reason for denying access to his personal doctors and family if the medical report was accurate.
The KP CM said they were holding peaceful sit-in and not even a flowerpot has been damaged.
Case registered against 64 PTI leaders
At least nine legislators and 55 leaders of PTI were booked on criminal charges, including terrorism, criminal intimation, rioting armed with deadly weapons.
According to the FIR, the SHO, along with a police contingent and a magistrate, was on special duty at Ataturk Avenue on Sunday when around 3:00pm PTI parliamentarians and 50 to 55 office-bearers and workers of the party arrived. Some were allegedly armed with weapons, batons and iron rods. They chanted slogans over loudspeakers, threatened officials and blocked roads despite being informed that the Peaceful Assembly and Public Order Act 2024 was in force, banning gatherings in the Red Zone. Police asked them to disperse, citing the prevailing security situation and recent terrorist incidents, but they refused.
When intercepted, protesters allegedly resisted, scuffled with police, tore two constables’ uniforms, snatched anti-riot kits and assaulted officers. The FIR says some gunmen accompanying MNAs and MPAs opened fire at police with intent to kill, though no injuries were reported due to safety measures. The firing caused panic and damage to an official vehicle.
The police picked up MNA Shafqat Abbas, ex-MNA Malik Umer Aslama, MPAs Syed Riffat Shah, Tayyab Rasheed, Mohammed Sarfaraz Dogger, along with Fazal Rahim, Hassan Niazi, and Shehbaz Ahmed, while others fled.Later, MNAs Shafqat Abbas, Iqbal Afridi, Malik Hassan, MPAs Rai Ahsan Raza, Mohammad Akram, Asad Zaman Chemma, Syed Riffat Shah, Tayyab Rasheed, Mohammed Sarfaraz Dogger, ex-MNA Aslama along with other leaders Hassan Niazi, Mian Muddaser Arshad, Umer Farooq, and Umair Wasi Zafar were nominated in the FIR, registered at Secretariat police station.
Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026
